How to keep score in pickleball

In standard pickleball, only the serving side can score. A game goes to 11 and you have to win by 2. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and whether the first or second server is serving.

At a glance

• Players: 2 in singles, 4 in doubles

• Who wins: First to 11, 2 clear

• Scoring: Only the serving side scores

• Doubles call: Your score, their score, server 1 or 2

How a rally is scored

This is standard scoring, also called side-out scoring, from the official rules.

A game goes to 11 and must be won by 2. Tournament games can also go to 15 or 21, and matches can be best of three or five games.

The three-number call in doubles

Before each serve, the server calls the score: serving team's score, receiving team's score, server number. So 4, 2, 1 means the serving team has 4, the receivers have 2, and the first server is serving.

Every game starts at 0, 0, 2. The team that serves first only gets one server before its first side out, so that player counts as the second server.

After a side out, the player on the right side of the court serves first and is server 1 for that turn. Their partner is server 2. A quick check: when your team's score is even, the player who started the game serving for you should be on the right.

Singles

In singles, the score is two numbers: the server's score, then the receiver's. Serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it's odd.

Win the rally on your serve and you score a point and serve again from the other side. Lose it and it's a side out: no point, and your opponent serves.

Rally scoring and other formats

• Rally scoring: a point on every rally, whoever served. It's a provisional option in the official rules. The score is called as two numbers, and each doubles team has one server.

• Longer games: tournaments can play one game to 15 or 21, still won by 2, with either kind of scoring.

• Best of three or five: tournament formats include two out of three games to 11, and three out of five.

A scoring example

The first rallies of a doubles game. Team A serves first, so the opening call is 0, 0, 2.

Seven rallies, four points. Every point went to the serving side, and the call always starts with the serving team's own score.

Keep score in Tallynight

Pickleball is set up for you: games to 11, win by 2, best of three. Tap + on a side's tile when it wins a point. A new game starts by itself, and the match ends when a side wins two.

Tallynight doesn't track who serves, so keep calling the three numbers out loud. For one game to 15 or 21, or for rally scoring, change the points per game and the number of games.

• A new game starts by itself when one is won by 2

• Games won on each side's tile

• One game, best of three or best of five

• Add each pair as a player for doubles

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

Questions

How do you call the score in pickleball doubles?

Three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, then 1 or 2 for the server. Every game starts at 0, 0, 2.

Why does pickleball start at 0, 0, 2?

So the team that serves first gets only one server before its first side out. Calling that player server 2 means a lost rally passes the serve straight to the other team.

Can you score when you're not serving in pickleball?

Not in standard scoring: only the serving side scores. With rally scoring, an option in the official rules, every rally wins a point.

How many points is a game of pickleball?

11, won by 2. Tournaments also play games to 15 or 21.

How do you score pickleball singles?

Two numbers: the server's score, then the receiver's. Serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it's odd.

What is rally scoring in pickleball?

A scoring option where every rally wins a point, whoever served. The score is two numbers, and each doubles team has one server.

Game names belong to their owners. Tallynight isn't connected with any game publisher.